Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the believers:
And they wrote letters by them as follows; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the believers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Seeing that we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy to all the believers.
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, That it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe; and they are all zealous for the law:
As many as desire to make a pleasing show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; but only so that they do not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Beware so that no one will spoil you through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of the world, and not according to Christ.